Sonny Bill to have knee surgery, World Cup questions loom
All Blacks centre will be out of action for six weeks after suffering the injury while playing for the Blues against the Stormers
Wellington — All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams is to have knee surgery that could keep him out of action for six weeks and raise question marks over his chances of making a third successive Rugby World Cup. The 33-year-old, a member of the World Cup-winning squads in 2011 and 2015, suffered the injury while playing for the Blues against the Stormers on March 30 and has been scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on Friday. “It’s a big blow,” Blues coach Leon MacDonald told reporters on Thursday. “I feel sorry for him and it’s unfortunate for him. He obviously landed on it awkwardly and did some damage there.” Williams could be in a position to return towards the end of the Super Rugby season for the resurgent Blues, who are seeking a fifth successive win when they face the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday. Whether All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will risk taking him to the global showpiece in Japan later in 2019 is another matter. Williams tore his Achilles tendon while playing rugby s...
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